Deer Management is an initiative created by Whitetails Unlimited to help landowners who are managing their land. There are numerous ways to manage deer, and each landowner must determine their objectives and develop a plan that best suits their goals and property. These signs will serve as visible reminders to others that the area is private property being managed for deer.

Deer Management property signs are made from PVC, measuring 11.25 inches on a side, and are white with red and black printing. The signs are suitable for use anywhere in the United States.

A Deer Management booklet is also available that explains basic management styles and habitat enhancement. The booklet can be downloaded from our website, or a physical copy can be requested.

To order complimentary Deer Management signs or booklets, please call Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters at 920.743.6777 or send an email to nh@whitetailsunlimited.com. Read more

A closer look at the Snowy Owl shows the level of coloration on individual feathers on its back side and face when perched.

Birders have documented a Snowy Owl with unusual orange-red coloring, complete with photographs, but there is no consensus about how the abnormal color was created. Bill Diller, a birder and photographer living in southeast Michigan, was surprised to hear from a neighbor that a “red-spotted Snowy Owl” was reported in the area of Michigan known as “the Thumb,” where several Snowy Owls can be found during some winters. When Bill managed to take some photographs of the unusually colored owl, he shared some images on social media of the eye-catching owl, which created something of a feathered phenomenon. Read more

Whitetail Institute is thrilled to introduce Summer Slam, the ultimate forage mix designed for late-spring and summer planting. A product of extensive research and development, Summer Slam brings together three powerhouse forages meticulously blended to achieve the ideal plant populations for maximum growth and nutritional impact.

Summer Slam thrives when planted in soils with temperatures of 65 degrees or warmer, making it an exceptional choice for wildlife enthusiasts and habitat managers seeking to establish high-quality food plots during late spring and summer. Each component of Summer Slam has been carefully selected for its remarkable nutritional value, resilience, and environmental benefits:

1. Peas A cornerstone of the mix, peas are celebrated for their high protein content and resilience under hot and dry conditions. These highly digestible legumes support deer growth and antler development while offering a consistent food source throughout the growing season. Peas excel in medium- to well-drained soils and can withstand drought, providing a reliable solution for antler-building food plots.
2. Vetch Known for its exceptional protein content and adaptability, vetch serves as a vital energy-dense food source. It thrives in various soil types, including less fertile soils, and enhances soil health through nitrogen fixation. This sustainable choice attracts deer, turkeys, and upland game birds, solidifying its role as a versatile component for diverse forage plots.
3. Alyce Clover This warm-season annual legume delivers crude protein levels between 20-30% in fertile plots, offering superior digestibility and nutritional quality. Tolerant to various soil conditions, alyce clover is a key ingredient in premium summer forage blends, providing essential nutrients and ensuring sustainability in habitat management. Read more

KINGMAN, Ariz. – Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) wildlife officers never know what they’ll face from one day to the next.

Two weeks ago, the department’s radio dispatch center received a call about a deer fawn in Chloride, Ariz., that was covered in cholla cactus. They relayed the information to AZGFD wildlife officer Troy Moody in Kingman, who contacted the reporting party and was told the fawn typically came onto the person’s property around 2:30 p.m. each afternoon. Officer Moody arrived to find several deer, but the fawn was nowhere to be seen.

About 15 minutes later, however, the fawn and its mother approached the property. Officer Moody noticed the fawn had cholla spines by the hundreds all over its body, not just the clumps visible on its face. He was able to chemically immobilize the fawn and began removing the cholla while the fawn’s mother watched from a distance.

“Most concerning,” said Officer Moody, “were the spines in the fawn’s eyelids, nose, and mouth, keeping it from eating or drinking.”

After a lot of time—and plenty of cholla spines in his hands and legs—Officer Moody was able to remove all of the cholla from the fawn’s entire body. Read more

For the first time in more than 100 years, cougar cubs have been discovered living in the Michigan wild.

State biologists on Wednesday confirmed the existence of two cougar cubs on private land in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula. The spotted cubs, believed to be 7 to 9 weeks old, were verified from photographic evidence of the cubs taken March 6 by a local resident.

This is the first time cougar cubs have been verified since the big cats were hunted out of existence in Michigan in the early 1900s, said Brian Roell, large carnivore specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Roell, a wildlife biologist for 26 years, led the team that verified the cubs.

“It’s pretty exciting, considering this could be the first known cougar reproduction in modern times in the western Great Lakes states,” said Roell, referring to Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. “It really shows that we have a unique place in Michigan where someone has a chance to see a wolf, a moose and a cougar in the wild. It’s something that should be celebrated, that we have the habitat to support an elusive animal like this.” Read more

March 12, 2025

Washtenaw is now the 15th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. An adult buck found acting ill in Salem Township recently tested positive for CWD.

The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which works with the DNR to identify CWD in Michigan’s wild deer herd, confirmed the CWD finding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, in Ames, Iowa, also confirmed the test result.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. The disease is chronic, slow developing, and spreads slowly across the landscape. To date, CWD has also been detected in wild deer in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm and Ogemaw.

Prior to focused CWD surveillance in Washtenaw County, voluntary sampling between 2016 and 2019 resulted in 824 deer tested. In 2021 and 2022, focused CWD surveillance efforts were conducted to gather additional samples, and 875 more deer were tested. While this is the first positive in Washtenaw County, 39 deer in neighboring Jackson County have tested positive for CWD, through combined DNR collections and direct hunter submissions to the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

“The expansion of chronic wasting disease to Washtenaw County is consistent with the slow spread we’ve seen throughout Michigan,” said Chad Fedewa, acting DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist. “This case was identified thanks to a resident who saw a deer that appeared ill and reported it to us. Every piece of data is valuable in helping us make science-based decisions to support Michigan’s wildlife. We are grateful that Michigan residents value deer and stay engaged in this way.” Read more

A male American Kestrel surveys the area outside a big nest box that a pair has adopted for the nesting season. Big nest boxes supplement the lack of safe, natural nesting cavities and help to reduce competition for nest sites.

A female Wood Duck perches atop a big nest box during an incubation break. You can position a big nest box for ducks near a wetland, or in the midst of a marsh.

For another level of birding fun, consider adding a big nest box to your property, or to a nearby park or nature center – with permission of course. Big nest boxes provide additional, safer nesting locations for large cavity nesting birds, including such impressive birds as Screech Owls, American Kestrels, Wood Ducks, and Hooded Mergansers. Large natural cavities suitable for these nesting birds are in especially short supply, and we can provide safer nesting options for larger cavity nesting birds by providing Big Nest Boxes with all the right features.

The larger cavity nesting birds – owls, kestrels, and ducks – primarily rely on large natural holes in tree trunks and large cavities in branches, but these are not always safe from predators like raccoons, large snakes, and tree squirrels. Large woodpecker cavities can be used by small owls and kestrels, but ducks can only use larger natural cavities that have a bigger entrance hole. Read more

Fire experts within the DNR occasionally plan strategic fires called prescribed burns to manage the ecosystem on state lands. These burns help control invasive species, improve wildlife habitat, promote healthy forests and grasslands, and reduce wildfire fuel.

Our stewardship team, comprised of foresters, wildlife biologists and other natural resources experts, develop detailed burn plans, ensuring responsible habitat management and enhanced recreational opportunities.

This means you may notice fire activity when visiting or driving by a state park this spring and summer. To sign up to receive prescribed burn updates in your inbox, visit the DNR’s Prescribed Fire page.

The “Prescribed Burns” story map – including stories, photos and videos – takes a detailed look at how prescribed burns work.

On Monday, March 3, 2025, it was announced that the latest (end-of-year 2024) population census of Mexican wolves had increased for the ninth straight year, to a record 286 wolves in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico.

To get a glimpse of the numerous activities that take place during the wolf count, including counting techniques, affixing radio collars, processing/health check, and release, see this video by David Majure of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s video production section:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaQnEdYOPpA Read more